This is the Boat that Ben Built

Finished September 25

This is the Boat that Ben Built by Jen Lynn Bailey, illustrated by Maggie Zeng

I loved the illustrations for this picture book, the colour nuances and the way the drawings suggested more beyond what was drawn. There are so many things to draw the eye and make one wonder. One prominent example is the girl and dog watching Ben throughout the book. They aren't in the boat with him, but seem glad to see what he's doing and at the end join him. 

The subtler ones include the butterfly jar on the boat. Sometimes it has a butterfly, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes the jar isn't even there. 

There are so many things to look for and notice.

The words are also lovely and so well chosen. A cumulative tale like the classic "The House That Jack Built" rhyme, with the building up of additional elements and yet different too as the actions of the elements change at the high point of the story, creating a disturbance through a domino effect. 

The grey-green colours of the scenes in the book, landscape and water, provide a neutral, natural background that is soothing

The book also includes information after the story, here on the river ecosystem and the concept of ecosystems in general. It also gives information on the animals in the story, introducing concepts such predator and omnivore. The reader is also encouraged to think of ways to add to the story through the use of additional animals in the river ecosystem. 

I like how books like this encourage readers to explore the ideas presented more deeply, while still providing entertainment. 

Jen Lynn Bailey's background in and passion for environmental science and education lend itself to excellence in conveying the concepts here.

Green River Falling

Finished November 8
Green River Falling by R.J. McMillen

I picked up this book after a friend recommended it. It is the third book in a series featuring Dan Connor. I haven't read the first two yet.
Here Dan is planning a much-deserved vacation with his partner Claire. He's taken his boat Dreamspeaker from its usual berth at Campbell River and is now in a small bay off Quadra Island. Claire is supposed to be joining him later that day and then they plan to go up the coast. When a boat comes into the bay toward him, he is surprised as only Claire knew where he was. The RCMP commander Markelson wants him to call him. It turns out there is a situation going on in the north part of the province where workers are being killed. Not only does Markelson want his insight as an undercover member of the team investigating, but his old friend Walker has also asked for his help in something that Markelson believes is related to the case.
Once Claire arrives, the two travel through the Inside Passage up to Prince Rupert, picking up Walker on the way. As they learn more about the circumstances of the victims, the nature of the crimes, and the way the investigators are thinking, Dan knows that he must meet the different players involved and not only get a feel for the personalities, but also bring a different perspectives to the case. While he worries about Claire's safety, and about bringing civilians like Walker into the investigation, he knows he needs them to get to the answers.
I liked the main character, and his partner Claire, and the inclusion of native legends and perspectives in a respectful way. The writing is very good and the plot is a good one. A series well worth reading.
Dan's investigation takes him not only up the Inside Passage and to Prince Rupert, but also to the Haida Gwaii and up Alice Arm. A great setting for a story.

New Fiction

Finished July 27
Red Hook Road by Ayelet Waldman
This book starts with a tragedy. Between their wedding and the reception, a young couple is killed in a car accident. The rest of the book follows their families over the course of that summer in Maine, and the following three summers.
The young man, John, grew up on the coast of Maine. He went to school to become a boat designer and he and Becca are restoring a boat they intend to use to run Caribbean charters. John's mother Jane makes her living cleaning houses for the summer people. John's younger brother Matt is the first in the family to go to college. John also has a young cousin, Samantha, who was adopted from Cambodia, and who served as the flower girl at the wedding.
Becca's grandmother was from the island and her grandfather is a famous violinist whose Parkinson's has now forced him to teach rather than perform. Becca's mother, Iris inherited the family home in Red Hook and she teaches at Columbia University, so the family uses it as a summer home. Becca's father Daniel was a boxer in his youth and now teaches law at CUNY. Becca has a younger sister Ruthie, who is academically minded and has just been accepted into a Master's program at Harvard.
We see how the tragedy affects the different family members in different ways as they struggle to deal with their grief and move on with their lives.
A touching and insightful story that takes a closer look at grief and its different manifestations.

Travel Memoir

Finished January 31
Narrow Dog to Indian River by Terry Darlington
This book narrates a trip by English canalboat down the Intercoastal Waterway by Terry and his wife Monica, and their whippet Jim. The Darlington's are very able boaters, but in their seventies. The book talks about not only the trip, but the people they meet along the way, the variety of weather issues that they encounter, and Terry's health issues.
There is lots of humour, and I found myself laughing out loud at some of his observations. Jim is a character with his own idiosyncrasies, and motivations, and often provides a way to begin conversations with the natives. Terry is often perplexed by the accents of the locals and some of the humour is due to this. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and plan to go back and read his previous book.